2021 JOURNEYS MAGAZINE

Events

EACH YEAR, SKYLAND TRAIL HOSTS several unique fundraising events. Each event offers a fun and distinct experience and an opportunity to support recovery for individuals with mental illness. We are honored by your participation and especially grateful to our volunteers and sponsors.

Benefits of Laughter 2021

October 21, 2021

Event Chairs:
Carrie Lanier and Christine Ragland

Patron Chairs:
Cindy & John Ferguson
Ned & Andrea Montag

Corporate Chair:
Jim Hannan

four people with arms out celebrating in front of colorful ballon display

On Thursday, October 21, 2021, Skyland Trail hosted Benefits of Laughter, which raised more than $1.2 million for mental health treatment services at Skyland Trail. The $1.2 million, a record amount for the annual event, will support the Mark C. West Financial Aid Program that helps removes financial barriers to treatment for adults and teens struggling with psychiatric disorders. Benefits of Laughter was presented as a hybrid event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Many supporters gathered at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead while others tuned in to a livestream of the event from home. Attendees heard a powerful testimonial from a recent Skyland Trail graduate about the impact of treatment on their mental health and enjoyed a comedic performance from the hilarious Fortune Feimster.

(Photography by Kim Link)

Associates Luncheon 2021

Co-Chairs:
Anne Marino,
2021 Associates President

Cat Lindauer,
2021 Associates Vice President

Skyland Trail Associates Luncheon Chairs Anne Marino and Cat Lindauer

The 2020 Associates Spring Luncheon was held virtually and raised $82,933 for Skyland Trail. The event featured a video presentation led by Associates president Anne Marino. Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, the Lead Faculty for Behavioral Science at Northeastern University and award-winning clinician, educator, author, and activist, spoke to attendees in a pre-recorded message that discussed how we can build resilience in our lives to support improved mental health. Libba Shortridge, HTR, Horticultural Therapist at Skyland Trail, also led a hands-on activity creating handmade cards and stationery by pounding pansies. Many Associates hosted small viewing parties at their homes for the event while following CDC guidelines, including: Liz Blake, Vivian DuBose, Cindy Ferguson, Beth Finnerty, Mary Frances Garrett, Susan Hannan, Suci Jackson, Barbara Levy, Cat Lindauer, Kim McCollam, Beth Park, Karen Parker, Denise Rezek, Becky Riley, Tricia Rosenbaum, Katherine Strickland, Michelle Sullivan, Brooke Weinmann, and Leslie Wierman.

Introducing the Skyland Trailblazers

Trailblazers Leadership:
Kwynn Everest
Chair

Alison Blue
Vice Chair

trailblazers-photo3_editted.jpg

Skyland Trail launch a new group in 2021 for emerging philanthropic community leaders called the Skyland Trailblazers. Trailblazers events to date in 2021 have raised $30,000, which will be directed toward financial aid for adolescent clients and families. Inaugural events in 2021 included a virtual informational session with Skyland Trail psychiatrist Adam Meadows, MD, in March; a happy hour and silent auction at Scofflaw Brewing in August; and a mother-child playdate at Oodazu in September. Trailblazers also welcomed 60 founding and new members and four sponsors. Learn more about Trailblazers in this Q&A with volunteer chairs Kwynn Everest and Alison Blue.

Virtual Benefits of Laughter 2020

October 22, 2020

Event Chairs:
Jenny and Bob Pruitt

Patron Chairs:
Betsy and Scott Akers, Jr.

Corporate Chair:
Tom Bell

Man standing on the set of a virtual event

On Thursday, October 22, 2020, Skyland Trail hosted the first virtual Benefits of Laughter, which raised more than $1 million to support essential therapeutic programs, family support services, and financial aid to help clients access and complete treatment.

While thanking supporters during the event, event chair Jenny Pruitt said, “Despite the circumstances this year, I am thrilled that we can still be together tonight sharing our passion for Skyland Trail. Your continued support gives Skyland Trail the necessary resources to help families in need now and in the future.”

Testimonials from graduates of the Skyland Trail adult and adolescent psychiatric treatment programs gave supporters a first-hand look at how charitable giving can impact the lives of clients and families in treatment. Tripp Crosby served as the master of ceremonies while comedians Mia Jackson and Andrew Stanley entertained the audience with stand-up comedy. Singer-songwriter Willa Amai also provided a musical performance.

Event Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors
Cox Enterprises
Delta

Platinum Sponsors
Atlanta Fine Homes | Sotheby's International Realty
Genuine Parts Company
Georgia Power
Invesco
Liz and Frank Blake
The J.B. Fuqua Foundation
Beth and Don Inman
Edwina and Tom Johnson
Betsy and Mark West
Margie and Robert Wynne

Gold Sponsors
Accenture
Angel Oak Capital Advisors
Betsy and Scott Akers, Jr.
Arrow Exterminators
AT&T
Julie and Jim Balloun
Jennifer and Tom Bell
Lora and Barry Boniface
Kit and David Bowlin
Crawford Investment Counsel
ELK Foundation
Emory Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
First Horizon
Duvall and Rex Fuqua
Lorre and George Gaudiosi
Georgia Banking Company
GPS Hospitality
Anne and Berny Gray
Hennessy Automobile Companies
Kristin and Jim Howard
Tish and John Inman
Jackson Healthcare
Jane and Clay Jackson
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Frances and Jim Kerr
Carla Knobloch
Amy and Nevin Kreisler
Carrie and Whit Lanier
Kelly Loeffler and Jeff Sprecher
MONTAG
Karen and Richard Parker
Printpack
Christine and Bill Ragland
Patty and Doug Reid
Resurgens Technology Partners
Romanoff Renovations
Sartain Lanier Family Foundation
Beth and Jerry Shaifer
Lou and Blanton Winship

Silver Sponsors
BlackRock
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Ginny and Charles Brewer
Nancy and Doug Bryant and Sherlock’s
Wine Merchant
CBRE
Colliers International
Christie and Doug Derrick
Sylvia and Bruce Dick
Nan and Ed Easterlin
Fulcrum Equity Partners
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Rand and Seth Hagen
Susan and Jim Hannan
Douglas J. Hertz Family Foundation
Beth and Tommy Holder
Houlihan Lokey
Jackson Spalding
Mary and Neil Johnson
Jennifer and David Kahn
Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr. and Family
Donna and Stan Sands
Snodgrass Foundation
Maria and Tim Tassopoulos
Mary Bridget and Greg Thurman
Beth and Julian Williamson
Angela and Billy Woods

Bronze Sponsors
Arnall Golden Gregory Private Wealth
Group; Barbara and Bertram Levy
BNY Mellon Wealth Management
Kerri Daniels and Dan Staley
Donna and Chip Davidson
Dorsey Alston, Realtors
Carol and Charles Doty
Cindy and John Ferguson
Elizabeth and Sheffield Hale
The Home Depot Foundation
Inspire Brands Foundation
Beth Coleman Jones
Lorin and Matthew Middelthon
NAI Brannen Goddard, LLC
New South Construction
Beth and David Park
Caroline and Jeff Tucker
Olivia and Zach Wall
Elizabeth and Chris Willett

Patron Sponsors
Joanna and Al Adams
Anonymous
Spring and Tom Asher
Libby and Brooks Barge
Olivia and John Barge
Trudie and Michael Bisciotti
Lisa and William Bridges
Laurie and Gordon Buchmiller
Catherine and TJ Callaway
Aimee and Tom Chubb
Amy and Cecil Conlee
Margaret and Dallas Denny
Shannon and Stan Dixon
Jenifer and Mike Dobbs
Vivian and Sam DuBose
Beth Finnerty and David Martin
Mary Gill and Dennis Kruszewski
Helen and John Gordon
Hil Harper and Brian Fuller
Catie and Michael Hart
Emily and Bob Herndon
Meg R. Heyer
Wally and Tommy Hills
Ellen and Jack Holland
Katie and West Johnson
Nicole and John Jordan
Sheila and Seth Jutan
Dixie and Duey Kerper
Fontaine and Matt Lee
Julie and Billy Levine
Deborah and William Liss
The Lookout Foundation
Betts C. Love
Melissa and Chris Lowe
Virginia Blake Maguire and J. Matthew Maguire, Jr.
Kim and Greg Marks
Miller+Boyd
Denise and Jay D. Mitchell
Jackie and Tony Montag
Colleen and the Honorable Sam Nunn
Lisa and Charlie Ogburn
OneDigital
Swati and Rahul Patel
Kelley Bogle Peace
Mary Jo and Bill Riddle
Becky and Mark Riley
Tricia and Maurice Rosenbaum
Carrie and Jim Shelden
Eloise and Stephen Shepherd
Marianne and Lenny Shutzberg
Caryl and Ken Smith
Julie and Ty Smith
Michelle and Steve Sullivan
Shane Thomas and Michael Bishop
Lucy Carpenter Vance
Ally and Todd Wandtke
Mary and Tom Watson
Brooke and Winston Weinmann
Karen Spencer Welanetz and Robert Welanetz
Ruth and Charles Wellborn
Anna and Warren Wick
Windham Brannon, LLC

Friends
Steven and Marti Alexander
Susan and Frank Brown
Cathy and Richard Chrismer
Jennifer and Tim Collins
Mary Elizabeth and Joseph Estes
Susan and Dan Faulk, Jr.
Anne and Rick Gieryn
Andrea and Boland Jones
Danica Kombol and David Lewis
Marni and Julian Mohr
Gayle and Charles Nemeroff
Helen and Donald O’Shea
Paige and Arjun Srinivasan
Leslie and David Wierman
Randi and Syd Williams
John Zellars and Randy Tibbals

Leadership Sponsors
iberiaBank | First Horizon
The Shaifer Family

Gold Sponsors
Atlanta Fine Homes | Sotheby's International Realty
JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Silver Sponsors
Anna Pare, MD, Dermatology
BlackRock
Dorsey Alston Realtors
Poof of the Pudding
Anne Marino
Lauren and John McColskey
Patty Reid
Betsy West
VPI Design

Hosts at Home 
Liz Blake
Vivian DuBose
Cindy Ferguson
Beth Finnerty
Mary Frances Garrett
Susan Hannan
Suci Jackson
Barbara Levy
Cat Lindauer
Kim McCollam
Beth Park
Karen Parker
Denise Rezek
Becky Riley
Tricia Rosenbaum
Katherine Strickland
Michelle Sullivan
Brooke Weinmann
Leslie Wierman

Sponsors

Anonymous
Jennifer Fleischman
Franklin-Bolston Charitable Fund
Betts C. Love

Founding Members

Britt and Hunter Amos
Alison and Will Blue
Catherine and TJ Callaway
Maddie and Connor Davidson
Katherine and Jason Deere
Morgan and Mike DiOrio
Katie and Taylor Dozier
Kwynn and Chris Everest
Catherine and Kenny Kraft
Chappell Loudermilk
Louise and Charlie Loudermilk
Morgan Predieri
Alison and Chris Reagan
Margaret and Brady Sumner
India Waters
Caroline and Bill Weimar

DID YOU KNOW?  more than 320 donors have contributed to Skyland Trail through events in 2021